Victor Clark This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. Westchester Independent Living Center

   www.wilc.org/about_wilc/staff/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/13/2008   Last Visited: 6/13/2008

   Coordinator, Partners for Success Program - Victor Clark

2. 2. www.wilc.org

   www.wilc.org/about_wilc/progra - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/12/2007   Last Visited: 6/13/2008

   "It is a journey into self-discovery, an affirmation of where you were, where you want to be, and how you are going to get there," said Program Coordinator Victor Clark.The program was designed by WILC for individuals with physical and psychiatric disabilities and its curriculum is grounded in three fundamental tenets: personal awareness, personal responsibility, and personal empowerment.It is this last point, however, that Clark said best defines what "connects" his students to the program.
   
   "I tell them, ‘you are responsible for how you feel,' and I stress that they practice being proactive and assertive in order to make informed decisions about what they need and want from a job or career," he said.
   
   Program Coordinator Victor Clark
   ...
   Clark has conducted nine classes with an outcome of 52 graduates since the program's inception, 19 of whom have found "quality" employment.Clark noted that the program attracts participants from diverse backgrounds: individuals who are recovering from substance abuse, those with psychiatric issues who are looking for a new way to re-enter the job market, and others who are transitioning from the criminal justice system.
   
   "They come here with deep issues," he said of most of his PFS students."Many have been burdened with years of people telling them ‘no,'" he pointed out, noting that all too often judgments and assumptions are made on the part of potential employers (and vocational counselors) about the capabilities of someone with a physical or psychiatric disability.
   
   "Play up that spark that others can't see," Clark told his students during one recent class session."Do not allow someone to make a conclusion about you," he advises.Suggesting that employers might be hesitant to hire someone with a perceived "gap" or what they might see as a physical "deformity," Clark challenges his students to rebuke the "labels" others may place on them.
   ...
   Students become very comfortable very quickly, said Clark.
   
   "They establish connections to the program and with each other in such a short time period," he said.
   ...
   "But, what really allowed me to open up was hearing Victor share his personal story as well," she said.
   
   "Whether or not I disclose my personal story and to what extent, depends on the audience," Clark said."It's about changing attitudes.When I hear students saying that they ‘can't' or when they express anger that has an external blame, that's when I tell them my history," he said.
   
   His history, as he describes it, "couldn't be any worse": he served 16 months of combat duty in Vietnam and was arrested less than a year later for a felony he says he didn't commit, serving 20 years in prison.During his imprisonment, he completed a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in special education.
   
   "I tell my students that they need to believe in themselves; there are enough people in life who don't believe in them," Clark said.
   
   "The program is helping me to learn to accept other goals for myself and to not feel shame because my expectations to become a dancer didn't work out," said Leslie.
   
   For more information about the Partners for Success Program or to obtain a brochure and application form, call Victor Clark at 686-3837.

3. 3. www.wptimes.com

   www.wptimes.com/neighborhoods. - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/12/2007   Last Visited: 4/21/2007

   "It is a journey into self-discovery, an affirmation of where you were, where you want to be, and how you are going to get there," said Program Coordinator Victor Clark. The program was designed by WILC for individuals with physical and psychiatric disabilities and its curriculum is grounded in three fundamental tenets: personal awareness, personal responsibility, and personal empowerment. It is this last point, however, that Clark said best defines what "connects" his students to the program.
   
   "I tell them, ,you are responsible for how you feel,' and I stress that they practice being proactive and assertive in order to make informed decisions about what they need and want from a job or career," he said. Program Coordinator Victor Clark
   ...
   Clark has conducted nine classes with an outcome of 52 graduates since the program's inception, 19 of whom have found "quality" employment. Clark noted that the program attracts participants from diverse backgrounds: individuals who are recovering from substance abuse, those with psychiatric issues who are looking for a new way to re-enter the job market, and others who are transitioning from the criminal justice system.
   
   "They come here with deep issues," he said of most of his PFS students. "Many have been burdened with years of people telling them ,no,'" he pointed out, noting that all too often judgments and assumptions are made on the part of potential employers (and vocational counselors) about the capabilities of someone with a physical or psychiatric disability.
   
   "Play up that spark that others can't see," Clark told his students during one recent class session. "Do not allow someone to make a conclusion about you," he advises. Suggesting that employers might be hesitant to hire someone with a perceived "gap" or what they might see as a physical "deformity," Clark challenges his students to rebuke the "labels" others may place on them.
   ...
   Students become very comfortable very quickly, said Clark.
   
   "They establish connections to the program and with each other in such a short time period," he said.
   ...
   "But, what really allowed me to open up was hearing Victor share his personal story as well," she said.
   
   "Whether or not I disclose my personal story and to what extent, depends on the audience," Clark said. "It's about changing attitudes. When I hear students saying that they ,can't' or when they express anger that has an external blame, that's when I tell them my history," he said.
   
   His history, as he describes it, "couldn't be any worse": he served 16 months of combat duty in Vietnam and was arrested less than a year later for a felony he says he didn't commit, serving 20 years in prison. During his imprisonment, he completed a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in special education.
   
   "I tell my students that they need to believe in themselves; there are enough people in life who don't believe in them," Clark said.
   
   "The program is helping me to learn to accept other goals for myself and to not feel shame because my expectations to become a dancer didn't work out," said Leslie.
   
   For more information about the Partners for Success Program or to obtain a brochure and application form, call Victor Clark at 686-3837.